MIKE NELSON Mike Nelson served as President of PCB from Jan. 1, 2001, to this past fall, completing just over 20 years. Mike’s professional career spans 50 years, starting from when he applied for his first banking job at Union Trust Bank in Parkersburg during winter break while in college. He loved the business from day one and transferred to evening college classes so he could work during the day. In 1997, he joined PCB, when their then President, Leo Tullis, was looking towards retirement and wanted to hire and mentor his replacement. Q: What inspired you to become a banker? Banking wasn’t a conscious career choice. I loved math. When I enrolled in college, the goal was to eventually find a job in the accounting field. However, banking found me through a job during my winter break. I loved the industry immediately and knew I had found my career path. Q: What has been the most enjoyable part of your time at PCB? Running a community bank is just like running a small business – you get to be involved in so many things, which has been wonderful. By far, however, have been the relationships that I have with the customers of the bank. I have been fortunate; my career in banking has been in the same community, so my relationships with my customers span decades. As community bankers, we have boots on the ground, so to speak. I have personally helped businesses start and watched them grow and thrive and be passed on to the next generation. In many cases, we have multi-generational banking relationships and it’s not something that I have ever taken lightly. It’s been a privilege to be part of our customers’ lives. Q: What has changed in the industry since you started? I think you can sum it up in two words: the computer. Technology has changed the landscape. Back when I started in banking, we had people that filed checks in filing cabinets. It was labor-intensive and took time. The technology changes have all happened in the last twenty years. It’s been an incredible thing to have been a part of. ATMs are critical. Websites. Online banking. Bill Pay. Remote deposit. All these things opened up opportunities for community banks. As people leave small towns for college or job offers, they don’t need to leave their banking relationship behind – our customers can bank with us regardless of where they go. That’s been a game-changer. Sally Cline (WVBankers President & CEO), Mike Nelson, Mark Mangano (WVBankers Incoming President & CEO) Mike Nelson accepting his 2019 – 2020 WVBankers Chairman Plaque 7 wvbankers.org
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